Dora Ntloko Tamana OLG (11 November 1901 – 23 July 1983) was a prominent South African anti-apartheid activist known for her unwavering commitment to social justice and equality.
Her experiences with the injustices perpetrated under apartheid fueled her determination to fight for society where all individuals would be treated equally regardless of race or background.
[1] She described her childhood as a picture of somber and isolation, in an untouched community of Hlobo, Transkei, then part of Cape Colony.
[2] As a teen Dora and her family converted to the Israelite denomination, a black church that believed in Jewish and Old Testament ideals.
[1] The South African government thought of this as illegal occupation of land and this led to the 1921 Bulhoek Massacre of Israelite sect members, where her father died.
This massacre and her loss inspired her activism and fight against South African apartheid[3] Dora Tamana's particular interest in activism centered around self-help programs such as a food committee (Cape Town's Women's Food Committee), a women's sewing cooperative, and a childcare program, which sought to have local authorities provide ample supplies.
The program was extremely useful during World War II when the Women's Food Committee pressured the government to bring those in need aid.
The league was used as a platform for Black South African women to advocate for national liberation and the anti-apartheid movement.
The women of this committee were involved in establishing several schools in disadvantaged areas and they also founded the Maynardville Open-Air Theatre on December 1, 1950 (as a fundraiser for charitable projects).
The three women worked to realise Dora Tamana's vision and they founded the Blouvlei Nursery School and family health centre in May 1955.
In her career, Dora Tamana eventually went on to take higher roles in the African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL).
It was through Ray Alexander, one of the founders of FEDSAW, in the CPSA where Dora Tamana was able to fully become involved in the anti-apartheid movement.
Lausanne was their primary destination but the two FEDSAW delegates were able to travel together to other locations like Germany, Switzerland, Romania, China, and Russia.